Automobile bumper



Feb. 19, 1929.

w. e. H ARDY AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Dec. 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1929.

1 w. G. HARDY AUTOMOBILE BUMPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2'7, 1927 INVENTOR Filed Dec 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet R O T N I- V m lllllv IIL I 14. PL

Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,941

, W. G. HARDY AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Dec. 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UVNVIITIVEDF Y I P TENT OF CEg-L WILLIAM G. HARDYQVOF onlm'rou, 'PENusYLvAmA, ASSIGNOR To UNITED STATES 01mm & FORGING COMPANY,-'0F PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. I

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Application flledflecember 27,,1927. Serial'lilfoi242,662.

My invention relates to automobile'bumpers such as are employed for absorbing 1mpacts of collisions at the front and rear ends of motor vehicles and the like.

My invention has for'one of its objects the provision of a bumper Structure wherein the main bumpermember or impact bar has rearwardly-deflected portions intermediate its ends, of such form that the bar maybe more conveniently attached to a vehicle frame,

and with less expense than in the caseof I .IJflCt- -IGC-GlVlIlg bars 22 tiat arebent at their various types of-bumper structuresheretofore employed. f

Another object of my invention 1s to provide a bumper structure wherein, not with-1 standing the'fact that portions of the bar in: termediate, its ends are deflected rearward ly, the front or impact-receiving surface of the structure is substantially continuous and unbroken; r f- Another object of my invention is to provide an improved manner of attaching a bumper bar to a vehicle frame. 7 V

Still another object ofmy invention is to simplify and improve bumper structures genorally.

Some of the various forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompany;

ing drawings wherein Figure'l is a plan View of a bumper bar structure embodying my inventitm; Fig. 2 1s a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 showsa fragmentaryplan view of another form of bumper structure;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the'line IV,lVjof Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of. a modification of the structure of Fig. 2; (iis a still furthermodification of such struc ture; Fig. 7 is a plan view of still anotherform of bumperstructure; Fig. 8 is a front elevational 'viewof the structure of F 1g. 7 F ig. 9 is a view taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a plan view of still another -.'deco'rati've effectftothe structure, arerbolted form of bumper embodying nyv invention;

} Fig. 11 is a front elevational View of the device of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a front'elevational view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a plan View of a portion ofthe structure of 'Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is apl'an view of still another portion thereof; Fig. 15 is an elevational view'of the member of Fig.14; Fig. 16 is. a plan view showinga modification of the structure of Fig. 10; Fig. 17 is a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 18 ,is

a fragmentary view with certain of the parts of Fig. 17 omitted and Fig. 19 is aplan thereof extend vertically for some distance as shown in Fig. The bumper structure proper 1s of that class known as the twin bar typet involving u per and lower imouter endsto formeyes throughwhich tie bolts 23 extend for the purpose of holding such ends in alinementand in assembled relation. Spacing washers or collars .24 are provided for malntalnlng proper spacing be tween the outer ends of the bars, the bolts 23 extending through such collars 24.

The bars 22 eachhave two rearwardly deflected portions 25 that are connected to the bracket arms21 by means of bolts 26. The bars are-thus directly connected to the supporting arms, and 'ai'e'.neve1'theless disposed at a desired distance forwardly of the vehicle frame, without excessive lengthening. of the bracket arms... i p v r V Furthermore,v the Jdeflected I portions 25 yield under impacts, since the bars themselves are of spring steel, thus producing an addi tional yielding effect in thel'iumper structure, without the necessity of employing additional loops or providing what are termed back bar members in addition to the usual im- {mot-receiving bars orfront bars corresponding to the bars22.

' Bridging plates 27, preferably of spring steel, and which may be of a color contrast ing to that of the impactbars 2:2, to add a or riveted to the impact bars 22,72ind to the front of the-bends 25, so that a substantially withstandin g the rearward deflections of 1 such bars.

Referring now toYFigsQS and l, I show a structure wherein barsi22 are provided that correspond to the bars 22, but. wherein the 95 continuous impact surface is prov ded, not- 1 Cir deflect-ed portions thereof are given a quarter turn at their mid portions 25 so that a pivot bolt may be supported in such portions 25. A bi acket arm 31, preferably of spring steel, has an eye portion formed at its forward endv for the reception of the pivot In Fig. '5, the impact bars '32 miry be of "substantially 'tl'ie siinie form as the bars '01- Figs. 1 and 2, but the bridgi'iig plates instead of ext'e'ndi horizontally, as in the case oi i1 plate 2 ire disposed diagonally, thus not only presenting di'iiferent decorative appearance, butperh'iitti'ng of more c'oi'ivenient access to the a etching screws or bolts Benet-correspond to the screws 26 "or Figs.

1 gem-2 Thestru'ct'ure of Fig. '6 t'listi'n guishes hem the devices of the other figures principally in the "provision of a single brid ing plate n'e'ar each end of the bumper structure, in-

sterd of e pair "of bridging plates, thereby producing still another decorative design "a'nd increasing the strength or the 'bars adja'cent to its poiiit'o'f connection to the supporting structure.

Referrlng to Figs. 7-, Sand 9,1 show pair of impact-receiving bars 87 each of "which has a. single long'rearwardly deflected portion 38 instead of a pair "of deflectedportions such asQh of Fig. '1. These deflected portions are connected'tobracket armsSS) by means of bolts 40, clamping pm-ssh and spacing and clamping blocks &2. The depressions formed by the deflected portions 38 are bridged by plates l3thatsciye, as in the case of the plates -27 of Fig. 2, to jassist in presenting an unbroken impact-receiving surface, and to lend apleasing appearance to the structure, Where they are of a color contrasting with that 'of the main bars 37.

*Referrihg now to Fl-gs. 10 to 15, I show a bumper bar structure, havingthe appearance of those'of the twin bar type, wherein but one "or the impact-receiving members is deflected cured. to bars igand e6 respectively by ineans of bolts-or rlv ets fo l and A clamp 111g plate 56 and'a b0lt57 are provided at the ir-brr '61, suclrber being connected at its'en'ds by mid portion of the structure, for alining and connecting the mid portions of the plates 52 and 53 and the bar 4-6. I

In Figs, '16 to 19, I show a structure that bears ageneral resemblance to that of Figs. 10 to 15., in that While it single main impactreceivin'g bar '60 isi'prov'i'c'led, a twin bar 'e'iiect is produced by the addition of "supplemental impact-receiving plates or bars. The bar has portions 61 thereof deflected rearWardly for attachment to the ends of motor vehicle frames or other supporting devices. A plate 62s'crv'e's to brldgethe o XPOIUODS bolts 63 to the bar 60.

The bar 60 "has its mid portion oii'set vertically, its rhdi'cote at Supplementary 5.1m iact-receiv'in 'bars'(io'andoo a e'connected C; V V

" 'oi' bolts to the ends of the bar 60 by n ()7 and 68, the bars 65 and 66 'lJLl sl'io'xvn more clearly the dotted lines in Fig. 18'and thespa-ce tween the poin s of bend being bridged by 'aplate 69 tha't'serves as'an impact-receivin inember. The 0 set portion 64 is preferably of greater width .L- than the space between ad acent edges of the plates end 69, so that "it Will serve *as a clamping member that "co-operates with a clamping plate 70 and a bolt 71 for tying the mid portions of the bars'oO, 62 and "69 together, the rnid portion 6% serving. also to yieldably brace the plates 62 and 69 st their mid -portio'r'is.

It will be understood that the means by which certain of the 'a'bove described structuresere connected tothe Vehicle frame "may be employed for connecting various of the other forms to such frame, and that various other iorins'oi bridging pistes may be em ployed, and in "fact some oi the plates dirpensed with Where the rearward deflections are sufficiently shadow or of not"'very great extent longitudinally of the in'ipact bars.

I claim a'sniy invention 2 1. Bumper structure comprising an i111 pact bar having rearwardly ofi'setportions intermediate its ends, and means or connecting said portions to a supporting structure.

2. Bumper-structure comprising an impact bar having rearwa'rdly 'e'fiset portions intermedlirte its ends, means for-connecting said :partiallyfl'oop form intermediate its ends, toserve as a; means 'of attachrnent of a *bar to the support, and 'apla'te for bridging said "offset portion.

'4. Bumper structure comprising-"a pair er impact bars of strap-like form disposed in vertical planes and in vertically 'sp'acedj're flationfaricl each having a deflected, portion that is bent at substantiallyright angles to the plane of its bar, and a supporting "arm disposed between and connected to said bent portions.

5. Bumper structure comprising an impact bar of strap-like form having a portion thereof deflected rearwardly and bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the bar and means for pivotally connecting a supporting arm to said bent portion.

6. Bumper structure comprising an impact bar of strap-like form disposed in a vertical plane, and having a portion deflected rear- Wardly andbent to a horizontal plane.

7. Bumper structure comprising an impact bar having an offset portion intermediate its ends, and means for connecting said portion to a supporting member. I

8. Bumper structure comprising an impact bar having a projection extending rear- Wardly and approximately parallel to the main portion of the bar, and means for attaching the parallel portion of said projection to a supporting member.

9. Bun'iperstructure comprising a pair of' vertically-spaced impact bars each of Which has a rearwardly ofi'set portion intermediate its ends, means for connecting said portions to a supporting member, and meansinde pendent of said connecting means for securing said bars together. v

1,0. Bumper structure comprising a pair of vertically-spaced impact bars each of Which has a rearWardly ofiset portion intermediate its ends, means for connecting said portions to a supporting member, means independent of said connecting means for securin'gsaid bars together, and means for bridgingsaid offset portions.

11. Bumper structure comprising Vertically-spaced impact bars one of which has a rearward'ly offset portion, means forsecuring said bars together to form a unitary structure, and means for connecting said offset portion to a supporting member.

12. Bumper structure comprising an impact bar having portions thereof deflected rearW-ardly at points intermediate its ends and the mid portion thereof, and a plate bridging the deflected portions and connected to sai bar at its mid portionand adjacent to the ends thereof.

13. Bumper structure comprising a main at their ends to the said bar and at their mid portions bearing against the said deflected portion and held in clamping engagementtherewith. l

14. Bumper structure comprising impactreceiving plates, a main bar connected thereto and having its end portions constituting Q extensions of the 1mpact-rece1v1ng surfacev of the structure and having rearwardly extending portions adapted for connection to y a supporting structure.

15. Bumper structure comprising impactrec-eiving plates, a main bar connected thereto and having its end portions constituting extensions of the impact-receiving surface of the structure and having rearwardly extending portions adapted for connection to a supporting structure, the mid portion of said main bar being deflected forwardly into abutting engagement with the rear surfaces of said impact-receiving plates.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM Gr. HARDY, have hereunto set myhand.

WILLIAM G. HARDY. 

